Why do Americans hate atheists?

1. Americans equate a lack of religiosity in general – or atheism specifically – with immorality.

2. Americans equate a lack of religiosity in general – or atheism specifically – with being un-American and/or unpatriotic.

3. There is no stigma concerning the expressed dislike of the non-religious. While there is a stigma (to varying degrees, depending on one’s social milieu) attached to being racist, or anti-Semitic, or Islamophobic, or homophobic – there has never existed a social or cultural backlash against people who openly express disdain for secular folks. So people simply feel much more comfortable expressing their dislike for atheists than, say, Latinas/os or women.

4. Insecurity on the part of the religious. Faith – believing claims without sufficient evidence, or claiming to know things that you don’t or can’t know – is an increasingly shaky endeavor. And in order for religious faith to survive, it requires a lot of social support: the more people who share it, the easier it is to maintain and reproduce. Thus, anyone who rejects the tenets of your faith, or calls them in to question, is a threat. Atheists lack a faith in God, and thus theists are particularly threatened by the growing presence of such humans, as they call into question the very thing that is ever so shaky to begin with: religious faith.

10. In googling about, I discovered Nick Clegg is an atheist

I also found the info on the seven states referenced in the article who deny atheists from holding public office. Excepting Maryland, all Southern Bible Thumpin’ states. What a surprise!

Arkansas
Article 19, Section 1
"No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court."
Maryland
Article 37
"That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution."
Mississippi
Article 14, Section 265
"No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state."
North Carolina
Article 6, Section 8
"The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God."
South Carolina
Article 17, Section 4
"No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution."
Tennessee
Article 9, Section 2
"No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state."
Texas
Article 1, Section 4
"No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_atheists

36. I gathered that. My point was

The vast majority are not that way and therefore you'd never know they were atheists without directly asking. Generally speaking atheist, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, what have you, it's the assholes that tend to stand out. All are represented by their respective worst elements.

3. While....

...I'm not a religious person myself, the few super-vocal 'atheists' I've come across, also seemed to be complete assholes about it and couldn't wait to engage in some ridiculous debate; for which there is no agreeable outcome.

12. As someone...

...said upthread though: vegans and atheists - and I would add Crossfitters as well - seem to exist on the same plane where it's mandatory that everyone around them be made aware of their personal choices.

I for one do not care and I'll avoid these people at the first mention. That being said, both of my kids went and are attending Catholic school. Less for the religious instruction and more for the rigorous academics.

Being versed in religion is not a bad thing and, in my opinion, gives one a more broad base from which to venture out into the world and decide for ones self.

But, I would also add that in addition to the above groups, I also do not care to be around Evangelical Fundamentalists, for the very same reason.

14. You don't like people talking about their beliefs or lack thereof.

15. They can talk....

...all they like. I'm just not going to take part. Mainly because, every argument pro or con, has been made, ad nauseum, a trillion times with the same outcome: each retreats to their corners none the wiser and in perpetual stalemate.

I have fundamentalist family. They know my proclivities and thus, I will generally just smile and nod, or tip my beer at them and say.... put down the stick and back slowly away from the dead horse.

20. Pretty much the same here....

....though I do run across them at family gatherings and have the occasional Jehovah's Witness knock on my door. I'm always polite...no thank you...no, I would not like a pamphlet....would you care for a hit of Hindu Kush?

27. Nor in mine....

Although Mr S and I had two close friends, a married couple, who were very much into the whole God scene. Whenever we got together, the husband would get going on religion and the bible, etc., most likely in the hopes of saving my heathen self from the fires of Hell.

What he...or they...didn't realize was that the more they preached and lectured, the more I was being pushed away

Many people have tried, and many people have failed, to lure me into the flock...whatever flock they followed.

What really finished it off for me, religion-wise, with the two friends was when they suggested that an exorcism would cure me of a couple of life-long anxiety disorders that at a few points in my life were severe and disabling.

9. Well, it is not just atheists

and it isn't all Americans either. It is mostly CINOs (Christian In Name Only) who forgot that a lot of early (and later) immigrants come to this land because they were hated for their religion. They ignore the universal religious theme of love thy neighbor. Lets face it, most non-christian citizens love the United State because they don't have to be Christians, or beholding unto Christians.

23. This nation was founded on Enlightenment principles very much at odds

with Judeo-Cristian principles. These were reason, individualism and skepticism, hardly the foundations of a religious tradition that had suffocated those ideals for over a dozen centuries.

The puritans came, not to escape religious persecution, but to find a place to practice their own extreme version of it.

The Declaration is primarily the product of Jefferson who clearly rejected the Judeo-Christian Yahweh in favour of a Deist position of a remote god who did not interfere in the affairs of man. Franklin and Paine were probably both atheists, or at least agnostics.

“America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles” is a primary school meme that most rational adults find unconvincing.

24. But the secular

nation formed after that Declaration uses a Constitution devoid of godly reference.

Our rights come from the simple act of being born, natural born rights are defined in the secular document that is our Constitution, so the the Republic would be devoid of opinions on religion and allow each man or woman to choose his or her own path.

Jefferson said, "But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg" a very libertarian viewpoint. Believe what you want, just don't interfere me or my property while doing so.

39. Uh.. the constitution.

Nobody is stopping religion in public other than religious symbols on public property. Nothing stopping you from going to the park, grabbing a bullhorn and yapping about Jesus all day if you want.
People do it all the time, it's annoying but it's their right to do so, so I just avoid them, which is my right.
You can pray in a school all you want. The school just can't lead a prayer or force a prayer. Can you not see the difference?
Whining that people can't do unconstitutional activities to annoy people isn't a very good argument.

42. Nobody took away your rights.

Who is stopping you from practicing your religion?
NOBODY!

If you have a problem with the constitution, talk to the Christians and deists that wrote the damn thing. Oh wait, they are dead, so you will never be able to.
Talk to the Supreme Court.
Why do you hate the constitution?

43. Aw come on Sonny. I know it's tough to admit things that make you uncomfortable

but the evidence is very clear that atheists have taken away some rights from people of faith. We don't dislike you except when you use your activism to take away our rights and trample our traditions. If you just went about your business like I do, you'd be much more likable.

54. Well there are probably a billion planets like ours in the universe

Maybe more.
The goldilocks zone is pretty wide in a solar system.
I laugh at creationists and evangelists that say the universe was fine tuned for us by God.
We would die instantly anywhere else but on our little speck of dust, not quote finely tuned.

I don't agree life magic. Life is an ongoing process, started billions of years ago.
No you don't offend me. I refuse to let things offend me. Being offended is a choice a person makes. I choose not to be offended over anything.
I laugh it off or ignore it but nothing you said there could be considered offensive.